GB’s Nick and Penny Crowned PyeongChang Olympians

Nick Buckland and Penny Coomes are crowned National Champions as they walk away from the British Championships as our officially recognised 2018 Olympic Athletes.

Nick and Penny have reclaimed their National Title after missing out on last year’s Championships, when a severe injury took Penny off the ice in early 2016.

Shortly after competition in the World Championships in March 2016, Penny shattered her right knee into eight pieces – an injury so severe that it threatened to take her off the ice for good.

But the couple have returned stronger and more determined than ever, making their comeback skate at IJS Sheffield in August to take gold.

The team then prepared for their second competitive skate at the Nebelhorn Trophy, where Nick and Penny had sights firmly set on their last opportunity to qualify a place for Great Britain at the 2018 Olympics.

The event, which happened in Oberstdorf Germany on the 27th to 30th September, saw the team finish at the top of the results board with a new Personal Best score of 177.3.

Now the couple have secured their own places in PyeongChang after a winning performance put them in first place at the National Championships this weekend.

Their places at PyeongChang were confirmed by an Olympic selection panel at a meeting on the final day of the British Championships.

High Performance Programme Manager Robin Cousins said: “I am delighted with the announcement that Nick and Penny will be Great Britain’s 2018 Olympians.

“The team have worked exceptionally hard for the moment they could step back onto the ice together.

“Penny’s road to recovery has not been an easy one, and being away from competition for such a long time has really been a test of their mettle.

“I don't think I've ever known anyone like Penny, who might appear so fragile, and yet such a tiger inside. It doesn't seem to matter what knocks them, they come back stronger.

“Now the team can go away and put all of their focus to preparing for the moment they step back onto the Olympic stage together.”

Nick and Penny will now begin training for their third Winter Olympics. They added: ”We are thrilled to finally be named officially as part of the 2018 PyeongChang team.

“Being able to represent our country at our 3rd Olympic Games is all the more special because it almost got taken away.

“18 months ago we felt like this wasn’t going to happen, so we are both so happy to finally be back to where we belong.”

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson have also had a fantastic season to take podium places at home and abroad, and achieved a personal best this year at the ISU Challenger Series.

The couple finished just short of a podium place at the Warsaw Cup with a fantastic score of 150.46.

The score met Olympic selection criteria, meaning the young Dance Couple will become Great Britain’s reserves for the 2018 Winter Olympics.